Promoting Environmentally Sensitive Design and Building Practices
Environmentally sensitive design places the same amount of homes/properties in the same area as a standard subdivision design would, but saves room for green space. Instead of having larger lots, the same homes are placed on smaller lots and community green spaces are created. This gives everyone in the community a larger green space rather than a small backyard.
Roads are made narrower, and there is less total mileage in the development by incorporating newer road designs such as a lollipop and stick design versus the standard block design. By designing in this manner, money can be saved by not having to develop large lots and saving money by reducing infrastructure needs.
By creating larger green spaces, there is room for many shared features including:
- A larger area of trees or plantings
- Environmental features
- Sports fields
- Historically significant buildings
- Parks
- Ponds
- Preserved natural spaces
- Stormwater Controls
Stormwater control is simpler because more open previous space is preserved, and fewer impervious surfaces are constructed. This reduces the amount of stormwater volume and pollutants discharged, while maintaining natural buffer areas and infiltration and space for stormwater treatment devices.